FEM ConstraintRigidBody
FEM ConstraintRigidBody |
Menu location |
---|
Model → Mechanical boundary conditions and loads → Constraint rigid body |
Workbenches |
FEM |
Default shortcut |
None |
Introduced in version |
1.0 |
See also |
FEM Constraint displacement |
Description
Defines the CalculiX's rigid body constraint that constrains the motion of the nodes of a selected face to the motion of a reference node whose location is defined by the user. In practice, this can be used to apply a boundary condition or load that will be propagated to the selected face. Since the reference node has rotational degrees of freedom, it's possible to apply a moment load or a rotational boundary condition to any face this way.
Usage
- There are several ways to invoke the command:
- Press the Constraint rigid body button.
- Select the Model → Mechanical boundary conditions and loads → Constraint rigid body option from the menu.
- In the 3D view select face(s) to which the constraint should be applied.
- Specify the coordinates of the reference node.
- Choose modes for translational and rotational degrees of freedom (DOFs):
- Free - default, no boundary condition or load on that DOF
- Constraint - displacement/rotation boundary condition with a specified value (0 = fixed by default) - for rotation, one needs to set an axis (X, Y or Z) and specify the Angle
- Load - force/moment load with a specified value
Limitations
Currently, the moment units can be somewhat confusing. To apply 1 N*m, one needs to set 1 J in the input field (those units are equivalent).
Notes
- This feature uses the *RIGID BODY card in CalculiX.